Finchampstead skipper Russell Lane is hoping his side can continue to punch above their weight when their Home Counties Division 2 West season starts on Saturday.

After a mixed season last year, which saw the team only stave off relegation in the final few weeks, Lane is hoping that Finches can field a more stable side for this summer’s campaign.

“We’re a little bit light, but that’s part of the challenge of having a young side like we do,” said the 36-year-old opening batsman.

“We’re very much a village side, but we have developed our youth side a lot – we are in a state of development.

“Due to some selection issues and injuries we were riddled by not being able to put out the same side until the last week of the season.

“If we’d have been able to put out a settled side last year, who knows what could have happened.

“We’re short of a few senior players, but we have always been a village side who punch above their weight.

“I’d be happy with being in the top three and fighting for promotion, but we have a very young side, and the likes of Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross and Reading, who can invest heavily in their teams, will all be good this year.”

Finches have lost Darren Augustus as he seeks to further his career in the Hampshire League, while influential bowlers Steve Bloyce and Simon Hards are both likely to miss the entire season having suffered knee and shoulder injuries respectively.

The club have, however, recruited well, and have filled their overseas players spot with Kiwi seam bowler Andrew Douglas.

They have also managed to sign former Uganda U19 captain Clive Kyangungu, but because he is serving for the British Army in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, he is classed as a British citizen and will not pose any nationality issues.

Kyangungu is an allrounder, as is another new signing Nick Fairclough, while Lane is hoping young players Dylan Augustus and Justin Clark will also be able to make an impact having made the step up into the first XI.

And when Finches begin their season with a home match against Dinton on Saturday (11am start) Lane is looking for his new-look side to gel immediately, although he admits a victory isn’t the be all and end all.

“We’ve been hit by a lot of injuries while some of our players have decided to try their luck at other clubs, but we have also brought in some new players to strengthen,” he said.

“We have lost three first XI players, but we have recruited well and hopefully they’ll be able to do a job for us.

“Andrew Douglas looks very good and has settled in very well. I’m sure he will add some benefit to the side, while Nick Fairclough is going to play a very similar role to Clive – both are very good guys.

“A win would give us a fantastic start to the season, but what I want to see, regardless of winning, will be a good performance from my side. I need to see that they have the character to sustain it for the rest of the year.”